EVN aims to raise Vietnam’s ranking in electricity access index

The Electricity of Vietnam (EVN) group will strive to raise the country’s ranking in the electricity access index to at least 60th out of 190 countries and economies in 2018.

Deputy PM Trinh Dinh Dung speaks at the event - Credit: VGP

This is one of the goals set by the group at a conference to set the tasks for this year in Hanoi, on January 4.

In the World Bank’s Doing Business 2017, Vietnam’s Getting Electricity Index climbed 32 places from 2016 to the 64th among 190 countries and economies. It surpassed the 70th position targeted by the Government.

EVN Deputy General Director Vo Quang Lam said that, based on the projections of power supply and demand in 2018, the group believes that the electricity system will be able to ensure sufficient supply for the economy and daily activities, if there are no abnormal situations.

The group aims to produce and buy 210.49 billion kWh of electricity this year, up 9.38% from 2017, while working to reduce the rate of power loss by 0.27% to 7.2%. It also plans to raise labour productivity by 8-10% from last year.

He said that to achieve these goals, EVN has asked its subsidiaries to boost the stability and capacity of power generation, especially that of the thermal power plants in the Vinh Tan and Duyen Hai electricity centres, and ensure fuel for electricity production. Meanwhile, hydropower companies need to work with localities where they are based for the effective use of water resources and ensure their reservoirs operate in line with regulations.

The group will continue carrying out solutions to further facilitate electricity access, implement the “single-window” mechanism between EVN units and state managerial agencies, and improve its staff’s capacity.

At the conference, Deputy Prime Minister Trinh Dinh Dung said that EVN is the country’s key energy group and needs to continue proving itself as a pillar in power provision.

It needs to restructure its power generation sources and replace polluting sources with clean ones. The firm should also accelerate key investment projects in order to meet electricity demand in the coming years while saving natural resources and protecting the environment, he added.